Cold plasma sanitation for a dispensing machine

ABSTRACT

An apparatus comprises a dispensing system and a sanitizing system. The apparatus has a dispensing mode and sanitizing mode. The dispensing system may comprise a first valve and at least one component, the at least one component having an inner surface. The first valve is opened to send a free-flowing material to the at least one component when the apparatus is in the dispensing mode. The first valve is closed when the apparatus is in the sanitizing mode. The sanitizing system comprises a processing unit having a discharge cell configured to initiate a cold plasma discharge in an air flow. A tank may be configured to receive the air flow from the discharge cell of the processing unit and expose water in the tank to the air flow for a time sufficient to provide dissolution of ozone from the air flow into the water and form ozone-containing water.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional and claims priority to U.S. applicationSer. No. 14/822,025, filed Aug. 10, 2015, which is a divisional of U.S.application Ser. No. 13/664,883, filed Oct. 31, 2012, and entitled “ColdPlasma Sanitation for a Dispensing Machine,” which is a non-provisionalof and claims priority to provisional U.S. Application No. 61/554,329,filed Nov. 1, 2011, and entitled “Cold Plasma Sanitation for DispensingMachine,” the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety and for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates generally to a cold plasma sanitization ofdispensing systems, e.g., free-flowing food dispensing systems, such asbeverage dispensers used in cafeterias, restaurants (including fast foodrestaurants), theatres, convenience stores, gas stations, and otherentertainment and/or food service venues.

BACKGROUND

Dispensing systems, e.g., free-flowing food dispensing systems,including beverage dispensers, periodically need to be sanitized.Traditional methods of sanitizing dispensing systems utilizedisinfecting liquids, which typically include antimicrobial agents,liquid detergents, and surfactants. A disadvantage of conventionalsystems is related to the need for reloading or recharging thedisinfecting and cleaning liquids to a sanitizing system. The reloadingor recharging of disinfecting and cleaning liquids complicates systemmaintenance and hinders automation of sanitizing processes.

Therefore, there is a need for new disinfection and sanitizationapparatus and methods that would eliminate the need for reloading ofdisinfecting and cleaning liquids as in existing apparatuses andmethods. Further, eliminating the need for reloading of disinfecting andcleaning liquids, and would also enable easier automation ofsanitization of beverage dispensing systems.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present disclosure includes an apparatus comprising adispensing system in combination with a sanitizing system. Thecombination has a dispensing mode and sanitizing mode. The dispensingsystem comprises a first valve and at least one component, the at leastone component comprising an inner surface. In an embodiment, the firstvalve has an open position to send a free-flowing material to the atleast one component when the combination is in the dispensing mode. Thefirst valve has a closed position when the combination is in thesanitizing mode. The sanitizing system comprises a processing unit. Theprocessing unit comprises a discharge cell, a high voltage driver, and atank. The high voltage driver is configured to control the dischargecell. The discharge cell is configured to initiate a cold plasmadischarge in an air flow. The tank is configured to receive the air flowfrom the discharge cell and expose water in the tank to the air flow fora time sufficient to provide dissolution of ozone from the air flow intothe water and form ozone-containing water. The sanitizing system furthercomprises a second valve. The second valve has an open position to sendthe ozone-containing water from the tank to the at least one componentwhen the combination is the sanitizing mode. The second valve has aclosed position when the combination is the dispensing mode.

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the presentdisclosure will be apparent from the following detailed description ofthe illustrated embodiments thereof which are to be read in connectionwith the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a system in accordance with various aspects of thedisclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a portion of a system in accordance with various aspects ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 3 shows a processing unit in accordance with various aspects of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows a system in accordance with various aspects of thedisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure relates to sanitizing and/or cleaning systems,and more particularly to systems that generate a working liquid havingcleaning and/or sanitizing properties.

An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an automatedsanitizing system that modifies properties of water in such way thatwater acquires disinfecting and/or cleaning properties. As a result, thesanitizing system does not require any consumable disinfecting and/orcleaning materials.

An aspect of the present disclosure is generating an ozone-watersolution or ozone-containing liquid that may have antimicrobialeffectiveness, and using that ozone-containing liquid to disinfect orsanitize an inner surface(s) of components of a dispensing system. Suchsolutions may be obtained by mixing of ozone with water, for example bybubbling. An aspect of the present disclosure comprises using an ozonegenerator. The ozone generator may be based on action of coronadischarge or by UV radiation on air or pure oxygen. An aspect of thepresent disclosure includes drying of air to increase oxygenconcentration.

An aspect of the present disclosure comprises use of a regular watersupply in combination with ozone to eliminate reloading of disinfectingand cleaning liquids. An aspect of the disclosure comprises use of aregular water supply in combination with ozone to enable easierautomation of sanitization of dispensing systems. An aspect of thedisclosure provides effective integration of a unit for production ofozone-water solution with a dispensing system to provide reliable andautomated sanitization.

In accordance with the present disclosure, a sanitizing method isprovided that is based on modification of water in a manner that thewater acquires antimicrobial and cleaning properties. According to thepresent disclosure, water properties may be modified by saturation ofwater with ozone and other ions and chemical radicals produced by a coldplasma generator. The ozone-saturated water may be pumped through adispensing system in order to sanitize and clean the inner surface(s) ofpipes, chambers, reservoirs, pumps, valves and other components of thedispensing system. Use of regular a water supply may eliminate the needfor reloading of disinfecting and cleaning liquids, thus enabling easierautomation of sanitization of free-flowing or liquid dispensing systems.Liquid dispensing systems may comprise free-flowing food dispensingsystems, e.g. beverage dispensing systems.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, a sanitization method comprises (1)providing air flow through a discharge chamber, the discharge chamber inproximity to discharge electrodes, (2) initiating a cold plasmadischarge into the air flow, (3) after initiating the cold plasmadischarge into the air flow, exposing a liquid to the air flow for timesufficient to provide dissolution of ozone and other ions and chemicalradicals from the air flow into the liquid, thereby producing ozonatedliquid, and (4) sending the liquid through a beverage dispensing system.In an embodiment, the liquid comprises water. In an embodiment, theliquid is water.

In an aspect of the disclosure, pumping of ozonated liquid through thebeverage dispensing system can be arranged in such way that the liquid,e.g., water, circulates though the beverage dispensing system andreturns to the sanitizing system. By re-circulating the ozonated liquid,the liquid may again exposed to the air flow to replenish ozone, ionsand chemical radicals in the liquid, and the ozonated liquid may be sentagain through the dispensing system. Alternatively, a single pass of theozonated liquid through the dispensing system can be arranged. After thesanitizing procedure is completed, the liquid may be disposed into adrain or further processed as may be desired.

In an aspect of the disclosure, a liquid, such as water, is treated insuch a way that the liquid acquires antimicrobial and cleaningproperties. In an embodiment, water properties may be modified bysaturation of water with ozone and other ions and chemical radicalsproduced by a cold plasma generator. The ozone saturated water may bepumped through a dispensing system to sanitize and clean the innersurface(s) of pipes, chambers, reservoirs, pumps, valves and othercomponents of the dispensing system. Use of regular water supply caneliminate the need for reloading of disinfecting and cleaning liquids,thus enabling easier automation of sanitizing process.

The sanitizing method may include providing air flow through a dischargechamber in proximity to discharge electrodes, initiating of a coldplasma discharge into the air flow, putting the air flow through water,exposing the water to the air flow to provide dissolution of ozone andother ions and chemical radicals from the air flow into the water, andpumping the water through a dispensing system.

In an embodiment, ozone-containing water may be circulated inside adispensing system for a sufficient time to provide sanitization of thedispensing system so that free-flowing material, such as free-flowingfood (e.g., a beverage) can be dispensed from the dispensing systemwithout being contaminated by components of the dispensing system, orother materials within components of the dispensing system.

In accordance with the present disclosure, an ozonated liquid, e.g.,ozone-containing water, may be generated and circulated insidecomponents of a beverage dispensing system. In an embodiment,ozone-containing water may be circulated inside the beverage dispensingsystem for a sufficient time to provide sanitization of the beveragedispensing system so that a beverage can be dispensed from the beveragedispensing system without being contaminated by the beverage dispensingsystem. In accordance with the present disclosure, those skilled in theart will recognize that an ozone-water solution or ozone-containingwater may be circulated inside the beverage dispensing system for notlonger than about 30 minutes before it is disposed to a drain or isreturned to a processing unit for replenishment of ozone. By maintainingcirculation of the ozone-containing water to not longer than 30 minutesmay provide greater antimicrobial efficacy of the ozone-containing waterthan circulating the ozone-containing water for longer than 30 minutes.

After the ozone-water solution or ozone-containing water is circulatedinside the beverage dispensing system for sufficient time for thebeverage dispensing system to be sanitized, the ozone-containing watermay be either returned to an ozone-water mixing unit or tank, ordisposed to a drain. Disposing the ozone-containing water to the drainafter one pass, and generating a new ozone-containing water to circulatethrough the beverage dispensing system may provide better antimicrobialefficacy than simply recirculating the older ozone-water solutionthrough the beverage dispensing system.

An embodiment of a sanitizing system 100 in accordance with the presentdisclosure is shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, sanitizing system 100may be integrated with a beverage dispensing system 121. The beveragedispensing apparatus or system 121 may be used to dispense aconcentrated beverage. The beverage dispensing system 121 may comprise acontainer 120, with concentrate 101, mixer 107, pumps 103 and 109,dispensing nozzle 112, and valves 102, 104, 105, 108, 110, 111. Thesanitizing system 100 may include a processing unit 115, an input valve114, an output valve 116, and a pump 118.

When beverage dispensing system 121 is in dispensing mode, valves 106,110 and 114 may be closed. In the dispensing mode, pump 103 may moveconcentrate 101 from container 120 into mixer 107, and valves 102 and104 may be open. Water may be delivered to the mixer 107 from the watersupply 117 and through valve 105. Water supply 117 may be anyconventional drinking water supply, e.g., municipal tap water. Aftermixing in the mixer 107, the mixture of concentrate 101 and water may bepumped to nozzle 112 by pump 109, and further into a cup or othercontainer (not shown) placed under nozzle 112.

In the sanitizing mode, valve 102 may be closed so that concentrate 101does not flow from container 120 to pump 103. In the sanitizing mode,valve 114 may be open or opened and water from water supply 117 may bedirected into processing unit 115. Pump 118 may direct the water, whichmay be processed by cold plasma in processing unit 115, into beveragedispensing system 121 through valve 106, which may be open in thesanitizing mode. In an embodiment, processed water from processing unit115 may be sent from valve 106 through pump 103, mixer 107 and pump 109and into drain 113. In an embodiment, valve 111 may be closed and valve110 may be open.

Alternatively, disinfecting or sanitizing water can be directed throughthe nozzle 112. In this case, a receiving plate 119 may be connected todrain 113, as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, disinfecting or sanitizing watermay be directed through nozzle 112 to receiving plate 119, and throughvalve 210, as shown in FIG. 2.

An embodiment of the processing unit 115 is shown in FIG. 3. Theprocessing unit 115 may comprise an air dryer 201, a compressor 202, adischarge cell 203, a high voltage driver 204, a water tank 206, and acatalytic convertor 207, which converts ozone into diatomic oxygen.

In an aspect of the disclosure, air passes through the air dryer 201 andthen passes through compressor 202 and then enters discharge cell 203.Drying the air before it enters discharge cell 203 increases efficiencyof the air ionization in the discharge. The discharge cell 203 may becontrolled by high voltage driver 204, which may provide signals todischarge cell 203 to start and maintain cold plasma discharge. In thedischarge cell 203, the air may be subjected to discharge from thedischarge electrodes (not shown) of the discharge cell 203. Upon beingsubjected to this discharge, the air may become ionized and contain ahigh concentration of ozone, ions and chemical radicals. This air may besent to water tank 206, where ozone and other processed air componentsmay be dissolved into water 205 held within water tank 206. In anembodiment, air treated in discharge cell 203 may be bubbled into thewater 205 through bottom 301 of water tank 206. As a result, water 205may obtain antimicrobial and cleaning properties. The portion of the airthat is not absorbed by water may be further directed into a catalyticconverter 207, e.g. a thermo-catalytic converter, where remaining ozonemay be decomposed into diatomic oxygen to provide operational safety.

The water tank 206 may be filled with water from inlet 208, which mayflow through valve 114. Inlet 208 may be supplied with water from watersupply 117. The processed water 205 may be moved from tank 206 throughoutlet 209. The processed water may flow from outlet 209 to pump 118, asshown in FIG. 1.

In an embodiment, a controller 126 may control operation of thesanitizing system 100, including components thereof. In an embodiment,controller 126 may control beverage dispensing system 121, includingcomponents thereof.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that in accordancewith the present disclosure, in an embodiment, air flow rates, dischargepower, and water flow may be coordinated in an amount and manner thatdesirable ozone concentration in water is achieved.

In an embodiment, processing unit 115 may be utilized to clean waterfrom water supply 117. In an embodiment, processing unit 115 can beutilized not only for ozone-water solution production to sanitize thesystem, but also for cleaning water from the water supply 117. As shownin FIG. 4, in such an embodiment, processing unit 115 may have twooutputs or outlets—one outlet 209 containing ozone-water solution tosanitize the beverage dispensing system 121, and a second outlet 401containing water, where ozone and other ions and chemical radicalsproduced by a cold plasma generator may be removed by apparatus 403,thereby resulting in cleaner water than water from water supply 117. Asshown in FIG. 4, water treated by processing unit 115 may exit unit 115through valve 402 and second outlet 401. The water may be sent throughvalve 404 and into apparatus 403. In apparatus 403, ozone and other ionsand chemical radicals in the water may be removed, and water may exitapparatus 403 through valve 406 and outlet 405. As shown in FIG. 4,water from apparatus 403 may be used as a water supply 407 to mixer 107.Water supply 407 may be used in combination with water supply 117 tosupply water to mixer 107, or may be used as an alternative to watersupply 117. Water supply 407 may flow through valve 408 before flowinginto mixer 407. A pump 409 may be used to send water from processingunit 115 to apparatus 403. A pump 410 may be used to pump water fromapparatus 403 to mixer 107. Thus, water treated in apparatus 403 can beused as a water supply to mixer 107, and be combined with concentrate101 when desired to prepare a beverage using water that has been cleanedusing the combination of processing unit 115 and apparatus 403. Those ofskill in the art will recognize that in accordance with the presentdisclosure, any suitable apparatus 403 may be used to remove from waterozone and other ions and chemical radicals produced by a cold plasmagenerator of processing unit 115, thereby resulting in an ozone-freewater.

Those of skill in the art will recognize that in accordance with thepresent disclosure, any suitable apparatus 403 may be used to removefrom water the ozone and other ions and chemical radicals produced bythe cold plasma generator of processing unit 115. Thus, apparatus 403may comprise, for example, an ultraviolet (UV) radiation emitter, whichsubjects ozonated water to UV radiation to break one of theoxygen-oxygen bonds in each ozone molecule. The resulting free oxygenatom may then combine with another oxygen atom to for diatomic oxygen.In an embodiment, ozonated water may be subjected to UV radiation havinga wavelength of about 254 nanometers (nm), which is a wavelength atwhich ozone is sensitive. In an embodiment, UV radiation may be emittedby UV lamps that may have a quartz shield configured to block light witha wavelength of about 185 nm, as this radiation has a potential forcreating ozone.

Apparatus 403 may be configured to subject ozonated water to hydrogenperoxide to remove ozone from the water. This procedure may also becalled ozone quenching.

Apparatus 403 may comprise activated carbon to absorb ozone from thewater. Using activated carbon may not only absorb and thus remove ozonefrom the water, but may also remove other ions and chemical radicalsproduced by the cold plasma generator of processing unit 115.

Automation of a sanitization process in accordance with at least oneaspect of the present disclosure can be done according to the followingsteps.

-   -   a. The sanitization process may be started by pre-set timer or        by a received input, for example, by receiving a “start signal.”    -   b. A dispensing system 121 may enter into a sanitizing mode        wherein valves 102 and 111 may be closed, and valve 110 may be        opened.    -   c. Valve 114 may be opened to fill processing tank 206 of        processing unit 115 from inlet 208, which in turn may be        supplied with water from water supply 117. When the tank 206 is        filled to a desired level, valve 114 may be closed.    -   d. The air flow through the discharge chamber or cell 203 may be        started and discharge arc may be initiated.    -   e. The water treated in tank 206 may be bubbled with treated or        activated air from discharge chamber 203 for a time sufficient        to achieve a desired concentration of ozone in water for a given        temperature of the solution. In an embodiment, the desired        concentration is the maximum concentration of ozone in water for        a given temperature of the solution. Then, valve 116 may be        opened and pumps 118, 103, and 109 may move the treated or        activated water through dispensing system 121.    -   f. Steps a-e may be are repeated more than one time to achieve        desirable disinfection and cleaning efficacy, i.e. commercial        sanitization.    -   g. After step f is completed, if desired, water can be further        treated in apparatus 403 as previously discussed, and the water        treated in apparatus 403 may be sent to a location in the        beverage dispensing system 121 to purge any ozonated water        remaining in beverage dispensing system 121. Thus, water treated        in sanitizing system 100 can be sent to apparatus 403 further        treatment as discussed above, and then can be sent from        apparatus 403, e.g., through valve 411, which may be positioned        upstream of pump 103. The water treated in apparatus 403 can        then flow through valve 411 and downstream components, e.g.,        pump 103, valve 104, mixer 107, valve 108, pump 109, valve 111,        and nozzle 112. Alternatively, although not shown in FIG. 4,        water treated in apparatus 403 can be sent to valve 106, and        then through downstream components, e.g., pump 103, valve 104,        mixer 107, valve 108, pump 109, valve 111, and nozzle 112.

An aspect of the present disclosure includes an apparatus comprising adispensing system in combination with a sanitizing system. Thecombination may have a dispensing mode and sanitizing mode. Thedispensing system may comprise a first valve and at least one component,the at least one component comprising an inner surface. In anembodiment, the first valve may be open to send a free-flowing materialto the at least one component when the combination is in the dispensingmode. The first valve may be closed when the combination is in thesanitizing mode. The sanitizing system may also include a processingunit. The processing unit may comprise a discharge cell, a high voltagedriver, and a tank. The high voltage driver may be configured to controlthe discharge cell. The discharge cell may be configured to initiate acold plasma discharge in an air flow. The tank may be configured toreceive the air flow from the discharge cell and expose water in thetank to the air flow for a time sufficient to provide dissolution ofozone from the air flow into the water and form ozone-containing water.The sanitizing system may further comprise a second valve. The secondvalve may be open to send the ozone-containing water from the tank tothe at least one component when the combination is the sanitizing mode.The second valve may be closed when the combination is the dispensingmode.

In a further aspect of the disclosure, the at least one component may beselected from the group consisting of a pipe, a mixer, a chamber, areservoir, a pump, a third valve, and a nozzle.

In a further aspect of the disclosure, when the air flow is exposed towater in the tank, the ozone-containing water formed in the tank furthercomprises ions and radicals.

In a further aspect of the disclosure, the apparatus may comprise atleast one pump.

The pump may be configured to send the ozone-containing water across theinterior surface of the component when the combination is in thesanitizing mode.

In a further aspect of the disclosure, the apparatus may comprisepiping. The piping may be configured to send the ozone-containing waterto the tank of the sanitizing system after the ozone-containing waterhas made at least one pass across the interior surface of the component.

In a further aspect of the disclosure, the apparatus may comprise adrain. The drain may be configured to receive the ozone-containing waterafter the ozone-containing water has made at least one pass across theinterior surface of the component.

In a further aspect of the disclosure, the apparatus may be configuredto send the ozone-containing water across the interior surface of thecomponent until the interior surface of the component has beensanitized.

In a further aspect of the disclosure, the discharge cell may comprise adischarge chamber and discharge electrodes.

In a further aspect of the disclosure, the discharge cell may beconfigured to provide a discharge to the air flow, the dischargeselected from the group consisting of corona discharge and UV radiation.

In a further aspect of the disclosure, the apparatus may comprise an airdryer. The air dryer may be configured to dry the air flow before thedischarge cell initiates a cold plasma discharge in the air flow.

In a further aspect of the disclosure, the apparatus may comprise acompressor. The compressor may be configured to send the air flowthrough the air dryer.

In a further aspect of the disclosure, the free-flowing material may bea beverage concentrate.

In a further aspect of the disclosure, the apparatus comprises acatalytic converter.

The catalytic converter may be configured receive remaining ozone in theair that is not absorbed by water in the tank and decompose theremaining ozone into diatomic oxygen.

In a further aspect of the disclosure, the catalytic converter may be athermos-catalytic converter.

In a further aspect of the disclosure, the apparatus may comprise adevice configured to receive ozone-containing water from the sanitizingsystem and remove the ozone from the ozone-containing water to generateozone-free water. The apparatus may be configured to supply theozone-free water across the interior surface of the at least onecomponent to purge any ozone-containing water from the dispensingsystem. The dispensing system may be a beverage dispensing system.

In a further aspect of the disclosure, the apparatus may comprise adevice configured to receive ozone-containing water from the sanitizingsystem and remove the ozone from the ozone-containing water to generateozone-free water. The apparatus may be configured to supply theozone-free water to a mixer. The mixer may be configured to mix abeverage concentrate with the ozone-free water when the combination isin the dispensing mode.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus is provided,the apparatus comprising a beverage dispensing system in combinationwith a sanitizing system, the combination having a dispensing mode andsanitizing mode. The beverage dispensing system may comprise a firstvalve and a mixer. The mixer may have an inner surface. The mixer may beconfigured to mix a beverage concentrate with water when the combinationis in the dispensing mode. The first valve may be open to send thebeverage concentrate to the mixer when the combination is in thedispensing mode. The first valve may be closed when the combination isin the sanitizing mode. The sanitizing system may also comprise aprocessing unit. The processing unit may comprise a discharge cell, ahigh voltage driver, and a tank. The high voltage driver may beconfigured to control the discharge cell. The discharge cell may beconfigured to initiate a cold plasma discharge in an air flow. The tankmay be configured to receive the air flow from the discharge cell andexpose water in the tank to the air flow for a time sufficient toprovide dissolution of ozone from the air flow into the water and formozone-containing water. The sanitizing system may further comprise asecond valve. The second valve may be open to send the ozone-containingwater from the tank to the mixer when the combination is in thesanitizing mode. The second valve may be closed when the combination isin the dispensing mode.

In yet another aspect of the present disclosure a method for sanitizinginterior surfaces of a dispensing system is provided. The method maycomprise providing an air flow through a discharge chamber. Thedischarge chamber may be in proximity to discharge electrodes. Themethod may comprise initiating a cold plasma discharge in the air flow.After initiating the cold plasma discharge in the air flow, the methodmay further comprise exposing a liquid to the air flow for timesufficient to provide dissolution of ozone and other ions and chemicalradicals from the air flow into the liquid. After dissolution of ozoneand other ions and chemical radicals from the air flow into the liquid,the liquid may be sent through the dispensing system. The dispensingsystem may be a beverage dispensing system.

In a further aspect of the disclosure the liquid may be water. Themethod may comprise closing a first valve, the first valve at the outletof a beverage concentrate supply. The method may comprise receiving anair flow in the discharge chamber. The method may comprise initiating inthe discharge chamber a cold plasma discharge in the air flow. Themethod may comprise exposing the water in a water tank to the air flowfrom the discharge chamber for a time sufficient to provide dissolutionof ozone from the air flow into the water and forming ozone-containingwater. The method may comprise sending the ozone-containing water fromthe water tank to an interior surface of a component of the beveragedispensing system to sanitize the interior surface of the component.

In a further aspect of the disclosure, the method may comprise opening asecond valve, the second valve located at the outlet of the water tank.

As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, the above describedembodiments may be configured to be compatible with fountain systemrequirements, and can accommodate a wide variety of fountain offerings,including but not limited beverages known under any PepsiCo brandedname, such as Pepsi-Cola®, and custom beverage offerings. Theembodiments described herein offer speed of service at least and fast orfaster than conventional systems. The embodiments described herein maybe configured to be monitored, including monitored remotely, withrespect to operation and supply levels. The embodiments described hereinare economically viable and can be constructed with off-the-shelfcomponents, which may be modified in accordance with the disclosuresherein.

Those of skill in the art will recognize that in accordance with thedisclosure any of the features and/or options in one embodiment orexample can be combined with any of the features and/or options ofanother embodiment or example.

The disclosure herein has been described and illustrated with referenceto the embodiments of the figures, but it should be understood that thefeatures of the disclosure are susceptible to modification, alteration,changes or substitution without departing significantly from the spiritof the disclosure. For example, the dimensions, number, size and shapeof the various components may be altered to fit specific applications.Accordingly, the specific embodiments illustrated and described hereinare for illustrative purposes only and the disclosure is not limitedexcept by the following claims and their equivalents.

We claim:
 1. A method comprising: opening a first valve located at anoutlet of a beverage concentrate supply of a beverage dispensing systemto send the beverage concentrate to a mixer; mixing the beverageconcentrate with water in the mixer when a combination of a dispensingsystem and a sanitizing system is in a beverage dispensing mode; closingthe first valve; providing an air flow through a discharge cell of thesanitizing system, the discharge cell comprising a discharge chamber anddischarge electrodes; initiating in the discharge cell a cold plasmadischarge in the air flow using the discharge electrodes; afterinitiating the cold plasma discharge in the air flow, exposing water tothe air flow for time sufficient to provide dissolution of ozone andother ions and chemical radicals from the air flow into the water andforming ozone-containing water; sending the ozone-containing water fromthe sanitizing system to an interior surface of at least one componentof the beverage dispensing system to sanitize the interior surface ofthe at least one component; wherein the exposing of the water to the airflow from the discharge chamber occurs in a tank of the sanitizingsystem for a time sufficient to provide dissolution of ozone from theair flow into the water and forming the ozone-containing water; openinga second valve, the second valve located at an outlet of the sanitizingsystem; wherein the beverage dispensing system in combination with thesanitizing system is switched from a dispensing mode to a sanitizingmode when the first valve is closed and the second valve is opened. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one component is selectedfrom the group consisting of a pipe, a mixer, a chamber, a reservoir, apump, a third valve, and a nozzle.
 3. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising sending the ozone-containing water to the tank of thesanitizing system after the ozone-containing water has made at least onepass across the interior surface of the at least one component.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising draining the ozone-containingwater.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending theozone-containing water across the interior surface of the at least onecomponent until the interior surface of the component has beensanitized.
 6. The method of claim 5 further comprising receivingremaining ozone in the air that is not absorbed by water in the tank anddecomposing the remaining ozone into diatomic oxygen.
 7. The method ofclaim 6, wherein decomposing the remaining ozone comprises catalyticallyconverting the ozone into diatomic oxygen.
 8. The method of claim 7,wherein the catalytically converting is performed in a catalyticconverter.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the catalytic converter isa thermos-catalytic converter.
 10. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising removing ozone from the ozone-containing water to generateozone-free water, and supplying the ozone-free water across the interiorsurface of the at least one component to purge ozone-containing waterfrom the dispensing system.
 11. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising receiving ozone-containing water from the sanitizing systemand removing the ozone from the ozone-containing water to generateozone-free water, and mixing a beverage concentrate with the ozone-freewater when the combination of the beverage dispensing system and thesanitizing system is in the dispensing mode.
 12. A method for sanitizinga beverage dispenser, comprising: initiating a sanitizing mode for thebeverage dispenser; providing an air flow through a discharge cell of asanitizing system, the discharge cell comprising a discharge chamber anddischarge electrodes; initiating in the discharge cell a cold plasmadischarge in the air flow using the discharge electrodes; afterinitiating the cold plasma discharge in the air flow, exposing water tothe air flow in a sanitizing system tank for time sufficient to providedissolution of ozone and other ions and chemical radicals from the airflow into the water and forming ozone-containing water; sending theozone-containing water from the sanitizing system to an interior surfaceof at least one component of a beverage dispensing system to sanitizethe interior surface of the at least one component; initiating abeverage dispensing mode; receiving the ozone-containing water from thesanitizing system; removing the ozone from the ozone-containing water togenerate ozone-free water; mixing a beverage concentrate with theozone-free water to form a beverage; and dispensing the beverage fromthe beverage dispenser.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at leastone component is selected from the group consisting of a pipe, a mixer,a chamber, a reservoir, a pump, a valve, and a nozzle.
 14. The method ofclaim 12, further comprising sending the ozone-containing water to thetank of the sanitizing system after the ozone-containing water has madeat least one pass across the interior surface of the at least onecomponent.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising draining theozone-containing water.
 16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:supplying the ozone-free water across the interior surface of the atleast one component to purge ozone-containing water from the dispensingsystem.